Nitin, can you tell us a bit about your journey and what you do at PayPal?

I joined PayPal in 2010 in India as an entry-level software engineer. Over the last 15 years, I’ve worked across infrastructure, content systems, internationalization, and localization. Today, I lead the globalization engineering team—essentially, the team that makes PayPal feel local in over 200 markets around the world. In 2015, I relocated to the U.S. to support a major project, and I’ve continued to grow within the organization ever since.

What advice do you have for small businesses wanting to go global?

Going global is exciting—but it comes with real challenges. What works in one country may not land the same way elsewhere. My biggest advice is to plan your infrastructure early. Build with scalability in mind: design content and systems that can adapt to different languages and cultural expectations. The goal is to “build once, scale everywhere”—that means making smart choices now that enable growth later.

"You need to localize more than just your language—you need to localize the entire experience."

Many small businesses struggle with choosing the right tech. What would you say to them?

Don’t start with technology. Start with the business problem. Too often, people pick a “cool” tool and then try to backtrack into a purpose. Focus on your needs, then evaluate what will serve them best. For most small businesses, cloud-based platforms are a great place to start—they offer scalability without the infrastructure overhead. But again, the key is aligning tech with your real goals.

What would you say to a business that’s made mistakes?

Mistakes are essential to growth. No successful person or company gets it right every time. What matters is how you learn from them. Honest mistakes should be seen as learning opportunities. Take time for retrospectives. Find the root cause. Put systems in place to avoid repeat issues. But don’t fear risk—especially in a culture like the U.S., where taking chances is part of innovation.

"If you never make a mistake, you’re not pushing hard enough."

And finally, what are you looking for in BASA Awards entries? What makes a 10/10?

I’ll be looking closely at impact. What did you achieve, and how did you do it—especially under constraints? Small businesses often lack resources, so I want to see how you overcame limitations, how creatively you solved problems, and what outcomes you delivered. It’s not about size; it’s about determination, clarity, and the difference you’ve made for your customers, team, or community.